The (Disappointingly Unambitious) New York City Mayor’s Race Scandal

The “plot to rig the New York City mayor’s race,” as its being called in headlines, is not really about “rigging the New York City mayor’s race” but it certainly all sounds very corrupt and exciting, does it not?

The plot: “State Senator Malcolm A. Smith, who rose to become the first black president of the State Senate, and City Councilman Daniel J. Halloran III were arrested early Tuesday on charges of trying to illicitly get Mr. Smith on the ballot for this year’s mayoral race in New York City,” The New York Timesreports. Smith, a Democrat, needed consent from certain Republican bosses in order to run as a G.O.P. candidate. He allegedly attempted to obtain said consent through large sums of cash, among other illicit means. Smith’s lawyer said his client “steadfastly denies these charges”; the Times was unable to obtain comment from legal representation for other parties involved.

Several months later, Mr. Smith met the cooperating witness in Rockland County, the complaint said. As they sat in a parked car, the witness told Mr. Smith that getting the certificates from the county leaders would cost “a pretty penny,” the complaint said.

“It’s worth any price?” the witness asked.

The senator responded, according to the complaint: “Look, talk to me before you close it. But it’s worth it. Because you know how big a deal it is.”

Shoulda used a euphemism!

It must be said: “Getting on the ballot” is hardly the Boss Tweed–style election-fixin’ of yore. Are New York City political scandals now pathetic, diet versions of their former selves, too? Damn the Bloomberg nanny state! [Shakes fist.]